Apparatus, method and computer program

Abstract

Various example embodiments of the subject disclosure relate to apparatuses, methods and computer programs. There is provided, for example, an apparatus including means for determining at least one sorted list of elements from a plurality of lists of elements and means for providing information including the at least one sorted list to a network function, the information including an indication of the sorted list.

1 .- 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . An apparatus comprising:
 means for determining at least one sorted list of elements from a plurality of lists of elements; and   means for providing information comprising the at least one sorted list to a network function, the information comprising an indication of the sorted list.   
     
     
         29 . The apparatus according to  claim 28 , wherein the information comprises an indication of a sort order of the sorted list. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein the elements of the sorted list comprise a structured data type comprising a plurality of attributes and the indication of the sort order comprises an indication of the order the attributes of the structured data type are considered in the sorted list. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus according to  claim 30 , wherein the structured data type comprises at least one of a map or an array. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the structured data type comprises at least one of:
 a map and the elements are sorted in ascending or descending order based on a key of the map, or   an array, the elements of the array are simple data types and the elements are sorted in ascending or descending order, or   an array, the elements of the array comprise a further structured data type and the elements are sorted in ascending or descending order based on the indication of the sort order.   
     
     
         33 . The apparatus according to  claim 32 , wherein the indication of the sort order indicates that the array is used for sorting. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus according to  claim 32 , wherein the indication of the sort order comprises an indication that the order is ascending or descending. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus according to  claim 28 , wherein a sort order is preconfigured at the apparatus. 
     
     
         36 . An apparatus comprising:
 means for receiving information at a network function, the information comprising at least one sorted list of elements and an indication of the sorted list; and   means for performing a search of the elements of the sorted list using a non-linear search algorithm.   
     
     
         37 . The apparatus according to  claim 36 , wherein the information comprises an indication of a sort order of the sorted list. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus according to  claim 37 , wherein the elements of the sorted list comprise a structured data type comprising a plurality of attributes and the indication of the sort order comprises an indication of the order the attributes of the structured data type are considered in the sorted list. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus according to  claim 38 , wherein the structured data type comprises at least one of a map or an array. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the structured data type comprises at least one of:
 a map and the elements are sorted in ascending or descending order based on a key of the map, or   an array, the elements of the array are simple data types and the elements are sorted in ascending or descending order, or   the elements of the array comprise a further structured data type and the elements are sorted in ascending or descending order based on the indication of the sort order.   
     
     
         41 . The apparatus according to  claim 40 , wherein the indication of the sort order indicates that the array is used for sorting. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus according to  claim 40 , wherein the indication of the sort order comprises an indication that the order is ascending or descending. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus according to  claim 36 , wherein the apparatus comprises at least one of:
 a network repository function and comprising means for receiving the information from a network function service producer, or   a network function service consumer or service communication proxy and comprising means for receiving the information from a network repository function.